Gustavo Petro proposes a ‘National Front’ in Venezuela

President Gustavo Petro suggested for Venezuela a “national front” like the one in Colombia in the 20th century, when liberals and conservatives took turns in power as a “transitory” step towards a “definitive solution” to the crisis that the neighboring country was experiencing after the elections.

“A political solution for Venezuela that brings peace and prosperity to its people depends on Nicolás Maduro. The experience of the Colombian National Front is an experience that, if used temporarily, can help to achieve a definitive solution,” Petro alleged in a message on his X account.

The National Front was a political pact between the Liberal and Conservative parties that was in force between 1958 and 1974 and that served to expel the General Gustavo Rojas, who wanted to remain as head of state in perpetuity.

This is a similar idea to that outlined by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who in an interview referred to the Venezuelan elections and proposed two solutions: the formation of a coalition government that includes members of Chavismo and the opposition or the holding of new elections.

The Brazilian reiterated the need for the Venezuelan authorities to release the minutes of the elections of July 28 and insisted that “so far” it is not known who won the elections because the minutes were not released and the result could not be verified independently.

Petro and Lula had a conversation yesterday telephone company to try to mediate in the crisis that broke out in the Caribbean country following the elections of July 28.

The discussion on the call remained confidential, according to a source close to the Colombian government, but they could have discussed this proposal, which both have now suggested individually.

In addition, today the foreign ministers of Colombia, Luis Gilberto Murillo, and of Brazil, Mauro Vieira, will meet in Bogotá with Venezuela as the central theme.